Seven South Yorkshire councillors not standing for re-election is a “sign of the times”

A number of councillors under retirement age who are not standing for re-election in May is “a sign of the times”.
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During full council meeting on April 1, tributes were paid and thanks were given for the hard work of councillors Charlesworth Daniel Griffin, David Griffin, C Johnson, Murray, Phillips and Saunders, who are not seeking re-election.

Councillor Jeff Ennis told the meeting that the number of councillors leaving, who are not yet of retirement age, is a sign that councillors “aren’t rewarded enough”, and reflects the difficulty of being a councillor.

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He added: ” I mentioned that seven are retiring because that’s very sad because we’re losing all that experience and expertise. What makes me even sadder, is the fact that all the counsellors retiring are younger than me considerably younger than me, and unfortunately that is a sign of the times that counsellors aren’t rewarded enough, particularly when they are working. I

Jeff EnnisJeff Ennis
Jeff Ennis

“It also reflects how difficult it is to be a councillor these days, particularly in the Covid situation.

Coun Wayne Johnson added: “It really saddens me that five of the seven people who are retiring are below retirement age. We have perhaps look at how we operate, to make sure that people below retirement age and have got other things going on in life are accommodated the council.”

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